My Sin Brings God's Goodness to Light, Which is Good, Right? (Romans 3:5-8)

Text: Romans 3:5-8

Within the first month of my marriage, I made a commitment to my wife. I told her I would take a day of rest every week, since it would be good for our marriage, and it's one of the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:8). I took Mondays off, and for the first few months I did well.

Then one week, as things piled up on my task list, I found myself thinking If I just work this Monday, I can get it all done. So despite the fact that I was breaking a promise to myself and my wife, I was also breaking a commitment I had made to God to honor his commandment. I willfully broke my promise thinking I have a really good reason.

The truth is, there are never any really good reasons to step over the boundaries that God has set in our through the Bible. There are no good reasons to get drunk, have promiscuous sex (including looking at porn), steal, covet, dishonor the Sabbath, take God's name in vein, or worship other gods before Him. But we do it all the time. And to make matters worse, we make excuses for our sins.

I dishonored the Sabbath because I could get everything done by working one extra day during the week. And in the same way I made an excuse for my sins, we all try to explain away the things we've done. We do this in the same way that Paul's hypothetical arguer does in Romans 3:5-8. He argues that God shouldn't punish him for his sins, since they bring God's greatness into light. But his argument is just an excuse. And, as Paul says, "Those who say such things deserve to be condemned."

Question for personal reflection: What sins have I been explaining away in my own life? 

Prayer: Lord, please help me see where I've excusing away my sin. Please bring my destructive thoughts and actions to my attention, and give me the power to confront my own deception. Amen.

Swingers and evangelists (Romans 8:8-15)

Text: Romans 8:8-15

Christians say, "I try to live my faith out in such a way that I don't have to use words." But that's a bunch of BS. Paul always talks about sharing the gospel in terms of speaking it. The truth is, we're just afraid of coming off as 'one of those Chrsitians who shoves the bible down people's throats' or we're afraid of rejection.

The real problem is that we are pendulous. We are afraid of swinging to one extreme - being too forward. so we swing to the other extreme - being pansies. But there is a happy medium.

What if sharing the gospel was as simple as telling someone else what Jesus has done in your life?

Also, Paul didn't run into Rome and 'Jesus Juke' everyone there. In the beginning of his letter he confesses that he's praying for an opportunity to come to them to share the gospel (v. 10). What if we prayed for an opportunity to share the gospel with people in our lives who don't know Jesus. or simply prayed that God would connect us with more people who don't know him. Just a thought.

Living by Faith (Romans 1:17)

Text: Romans 1:17

When I was pregnant with my daughter, Caroleen, I took some time off work. It was the first free time I had had in years. So I decided to attend a Bible study at my church. It was a Beth Moore study, and the topic of living by faith came up:

"...as it is written, 'the righteous shall live by faith.'" Romans 1:17

At one point the question was asked, "How often do we take action in life and then ask God to bless it?" That got us talking about how different life would look if we asked God for direction before taking action or making decisions. That led me to the question that changed everything - How would my life be different if I asked for God's will and direction before I took action?

After that I started regularly asking God to guide my decisions, and lead my life. Then, rather than making my own plans, I walked through each day looking for God's leading in my life. The amazing result was that I felt more peace with the direction of my life. Even when things weren't going my way, I had serenity because I lived with the confidence that He was leading my life.

So I'll leave you with the same question that changed things for me. And I encourage you to just start with today, by asking yourself - How would my life be different if I asked for God's will and direction before I take action?

Prayer: Lord, you alone have the power to determine the direction for my life. I'm looking for your will for my life today.

The Silver-lining to grief and sorrow (Lamentations 1)

Text: Lamentations 1

The book of Lamentations is known for being the most depressing book in the Bible. The whole book is made up of poems that describe, in painful detail, Israel's sorrows. At first glance, it reads like the journal of a teenager who just got dumped saying, "Woe is me! I've been dumped, and now I'm all alone in the world. My heart is broken and I will never be happy ever again." For that reason, it's not a lot of people's favorite book. 

In Isreal's defense, their grief is not without merit. These poems were written in response to Babylon's violent capture and plundered of Israel's capital, Jerusalem (2 Kings 24 & 2 Chronicles 36). After their capture, the Babylonians desecrated Isreal's temple, and enslaved the Israelites. 

They're feeling the kind of utter hopelessness that we feel in the worst moments of our lives. It's the same heart shattering despair we experience when we go through a bitter breakup or divorce; face the betrayal of a close friend; get fired from the job our family depends on; or face bankruptcy as the result of crushing financial debt. These situations have a special ability to cause us to feel isolated, humiliated and broken. There is, however, a silver-lining to the blackest moments of our lives. 

Only when Israel's pride and dignity have been stripped away do the people find the humility to take responsibility for their contribution to their suffering. 

"'The LORD is right,' Jerusalem says, 'for I rebelled against him. Listen, people everywhere; look upon my anguish and despair, for my sons and daughters have been taken captive to distant lands.'"

If we allow them, our tragedies clear away the fog of self deception in our lives, and give us an opportunity to see where we've contributed to our own pain and suffering. The people who cease these opportunities will set the stage for their own healing. They will aid a miracle in their own lives, as their worst suffering is transformed into valuable experience that can be used to comfort and guide other people.

Question: Where have I contributed to the suffering I am currently experiencing in my life?

Prayer: "Lord, if I were perfect I would be like you, and my life would be perfect. But I am not perfect. And even though I live in an imperfect world, my selfish actions and attitudes contribute to my own suffering. Please show me how to turn away from my own sin, submit to your will for my life, and become helpful to the people you've put in my life."